Self-regulating control system



Feb. 4, 1930.

E. F. GEIGER SELF REGULATING CONTROL SYSTEM FiledV Dec, 8. 1925 vs MmFAST 4 2 25 MASTER EDWARD F. @msm 335% @V501/nlug 45 with the B'vvir Patented Feb. 4, `1930 UNITED srATEs f PAT-ENT ,OFFICE DWARD F. GEIGER, OF lBINGIHANIIJON', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 INTERNATIONAL RECORDING COMPANY 01E"I NEW YORK, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATON or NEW Yom:

i SELF-REGULATING- CONTI/'ROL SYSTEM Application led December 5 systemshown in the patent to Bryce, No.

1,687,491 issued October 16,1928, andl relates specifically to a synchronizing clock system in which' a plurality of secondary clocks are to be operated in accordance with a primary or master clock by minute impulses transmitted by the master clock. The impulses arc automatically transmitted over a plurality of Vconnected wires commonly called A and yB Wires to which theV secondary clocks are connected selectively in accordance with con-y tacts controlled by theposition of the secondary clocks themselves. Whenever impulses are being-transmitted over both Wires the secondary clocks Will be` stepped ahead one unit,

r3 commonly one minute, each time an impulse is received, irrespective ofthe position of the controlling contacts. During a certain interval called the synchronizing period one of the main wires such as the-Bv Wire is disconnected 2' from the masterclock and impulses are transmitted over the remaining Wire or A Wire only. Under such conditions the secondary clocks which are connected to the A Wire are stepped ahead in accordance with the minute 120 impulses from the master clock While the secondary clocks connected to the B Wire remain stationary.

The selective contacts in the secondary clocks are controlled by cams in accordance :pi-'1 with the time indication of the secondaries to disconnect the clock from the' A Wire and and connect it with the B Wire When'the clock reaches a given position which is commonly chosen as the 59fminute position. If the mas- 40 ter clock is designed to open theA B Wire durf ing the last fifteen minutes of each hour,

should any secondaryl clock be fast, .its con- 1 tacts'would be operated as soon as the clock indicatedthe 59th minute to connect the clock The B Wire being then 8, 1926. Serial No. 153,279.

opened by the master clock received and the clock remains stationary untilthe master clock itself reaches the even no impulses are .hour period when impulses are again transl running slow mechanism is associated With the master clock Which rWill impress a series of rapid impulses upon the A'Wire during the last minute of the hour. Any secondary clock which is slow will then be stepped ahead in accordance with the rapid impulses until the selective contacts are actuated to disconnect. the clock from the A Wire.

/ In systems of this type should the relay associated with the master clock for disconnectingthe B Wire during the synchronizing period fail to operate open Winding or due to sticking of the armature, ythe rapid impulses would be transmitted4 over both Wires and all clocks.. would be stepped ahead inaccordance with these impulses irrespective of their position relative to the master clock. ,a n

It therefore an object of this invention vto provide means for preventing secondary for any reason suchl as an clocks from being stepped ahead during the ,I

synchronizing period through failure of any associated apparatus. M

Another object is -to prevent secondary clocks from being stepped ahead during the y synchronizing period vby reason of failure yof the relay designed to. disconnect one ofthe synchronizing lines. A.

A further object is to provide means for impressing rapid impulses upon aseriesv o secondary clocks during a synchronizing pe-- the main actuat-v riod which is independent o lng means.

automatically regulating synchronized clock A still further yobject 'is to provide an system ofimproved and novel construction and design as hereinafter set forth and more `fully described. i f

40 operated 1n responsesto minute lmpulses en- The above objects and others which will be apparent as the nature of the invention. is' disclosed are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing an. in-

dependent means for impressing rapid impulses upon the synchronizing line during the preselected period. This means comprises a relay operable `in response to the two-second 4contacts on the master clock which is so connected in the circuit that it only impresses,l

impulses upon one' line' after the other line has been disconnected. By the arrangement of circuits hereinafter more fully described should both`lines be connected during the synchronizing period ,due to failure of any of the operating mechanism the rapid impulses from the two contacts will not be impressed upon the mains.

Although. the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself,

as to its objects, advantages, the mode of its operation and the manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the following description taken connection with the accompanying drawing'forming a part thereof in which a a The ligure is a diagrammatic representation of aiself-regulating control for synchro- Aiuized clocks constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referrin to the figures more in detail `a plurality o secondary clocks 1, 2 and 3 lare shown in various time relations to a master clock 4. Clock 1 is'shown as on time, that is indicating the time corresponding to that shown by the master clock.' Clock 2 is illustrated as ifteenminutes fast vand clock 3 as fifteen minutes slow. These clocks are each ergizing coils 5l which are connected to the usual steppinglmechanisnwhereby the clocks are stepped a ead one Iminute as the coilsv 5 are energized. Cams 6, operatively associated clocks and adapted to turn in accordance with the minu indications thereon,`ara designed to actua contacts 10 and 11 by meansv of which coils 5 are connected selectively to either of a pair of transmission Wires, A, B.l Cam 6 is Vdesigned to with the seconda Vopen contact 10 connecting coils 5 with line A and close contact 11 which will connect coils 5 'with' line B vbetween the 59th and 60th minute indications of the clock. v f

Minute-impulses are lmpressed upon lines A and B from master clock 4 by means of contacts 12 which are operated by a cam con'- nected` to the master clock anddesigned to -close once er minute. Contacts 12 complete a circuit om source 13 through relay coil 14 and resistance 15 each time they are closed. Contacts 16 are closed b the armature of ref lay14 in response to cac energizatlon thereof. A circuit is then completed from source 13 through contacts 16 to line A and through back contact 17 of relay 18 to line-B andl thence through contacts 10 or llthrough coils 5 and back through line 19 to source 13. By means of the circuit previously traced. coils' are energized once per minute by contacts 12 onpthe master'clock 4 and serve Ato step secondary clocks 1, 2 and 3 ahead one `minute each time master clock 4 has advanced a minute.

During the synchronizing period, which is herein assumed to be between the 45th and 59th minute of every-hour, cam contacts 22, which are operated. in response to cams 23 carried by the master clock 4, are designed to close and complete a circuitfr'om the source '13 through relay 18. This relay being ener- A/gized attracts its armature opening contacts 17 and closing contacts 24. The circuit to the B wire is then broken and henceforth operation of contacts 16 in response to minute relay 14 will serve to send impulses over the A' wire only. Whenever a secondary clock reaches the 59th minute contact 10 is broken by cam 6 associated Withthe secondary clock and stepping magnet 5 is disconnected from line A. Consequently, these clocks will not pass the 59th minute until the master clock has passed the 59th minute and contact 22' has again opened releasing relay 18 and closing contactI 17. f

Inl order to step ahead any secondary clocks which may register slow' the master clock cam contacts 28 operated in response to cani 29 are designed to close for a certain period of time such as thirty seconds during the 59thminute. When contacts 28 are'closing a circuit 1s completed through contacts 22 now closed, contacts 28 .through two-second con- Y releasing relays 18 and 31 thereby restoring the system to its original condition whereby both-the A and the B Wires are energized upon the next energization ofrelay 14 which will occur at the 60th minute.

Should relay 18 fail to be energized forany reason, the fast impulses produced by reason of energization of relay 31 will not be impressed upon either the A or B lines inasmuch as contact 24 will be open. There is therefore no possibility of the secondary clocks be ing 'stepped ahead beyond their predetermined position .due to a circuit failure in the system. Should relay 18' fail to operate entirely, the system would operate as a nonl CO self-regulatory synchronized clock circuit which would mean that the clocks would not be forced any further out of step than they were at the time of failure. As previously y mentioned with the type of system heretofore employed upon failure of the selective relay to operate the clocks would all be advanced in accordance with their rapid impulses which would be objectionable. This condition is avoided by the present invention. n

Although this invention has been shown as applied to the above described system it is not to be limited thereto but only in accordance with the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim: l i l l. .A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a master clock and one or more secondary clocks, a pair of transmission lines normally connecting each of said secondary clocks to said master clock through a common circuit and means for intermittently disconnecting one of said lines from said common circuit and thereafter connecting the other line to said master clock through an independent circuit.

2. A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a master' clock and one or more secondary clocks, a pair of transmission linesl normally connecting each of said secondary clocks to said master clock through a common circuit and interlocking switch mechanism for intermittently disconnecting one of said lines from said common circuit and thereafter connecting the other line to said master clock through an independent circuit only in the event-of the prior disconnection of the irst named line from the common circuit.

3. A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a master clock and one or more secondary clocks, a pair of transmission lines normally connecting each of said secondaryclocks to said master clock through a common circuit, means for intermittently se- Aquentially disconnecting one of said lines from said master clock and thereafter establishing al connection between the other line and the masterclock through an additional independent circuit'while maintaining its connection through the common circuit.

4. A selfsynchronizing clock system comvprisin a master clock and `one or more secondar y clocks, a pair of transmission line's normally connecting each of said secondary clocks to said master clock through' a common circuit and interlocking switch mechanism for intermittently disconnecting one :of said lines from said common circuit and thereafter connecting the other' line to the master clock through an independent circuit, while maintaining its connection through the common circuit only, in the event of the prior disconnection of the other line from the common circuit.

5. A self-synchronizing clock system. comprising a master clock and one or more secondar clocks, said master clock comprising perio -cally operating means for continuously initiating a series of periodic impulses and intermittently operating means for initiating a series of more rapid impulses during a selected recurring period, a pair of transmission lines and'means controlled by each secondary clock for selectively connecting it to one or the other of said lines in accordance with predetermined time indications, one of said transmission lines being permanently connected to said periodically operating means and the other being removably connected thereto and means for disconnecting the last namedtransmission line from said periodically operating means'and thereafter connecting the other line to said intermittently operating means prior to each recurring operative period thereof.

6. A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a master clock and one or more secondary clocks; said master clock comprising periodically operating means for continuously initiating a series of periodic impulses and intermittently operating means for initiating a series of more rapid impulses during a selected 'recurring period, a pair of transmission lines and means controlled by each secondary clock for selectively connecting it to one or the other of said lines in accordance with predetermined time indications, said transmission lines being normally connected to said periodically operating means and means for disconnecting one of them therefrom prior to each period of operation of said intermittently operating means and subsequently connecting the other to said last y named means.

7 A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a master clock and one or more secondary clocks, said master clock comprising 4periodically operating means for continuously initiating a series of periodic impulses andintermittentlyoperatingmeansfor initiating a series of more rapid impulses during a selected recurring period, a pair of transmission lines and means controlled by each secondary clock for selectively connecting it to one or the other of saidlines in accordance with predetermined time indications, one of said transmission linesbeing connected to said periodically operating means and interlocking switch mechanism for normally connecting the other transmission line to said peridioally operating means and disconnecting it therefrom prior to each period of operation of the intermittently operating means and thereafter connecting the first line to the last named means only if the other has previously been disconnected from said periodically operating means.

8. A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a. master clock and one or more secondary clocks, a pair of transmission lines for connecting said secondary clocks to said master clock, a common master clock circuit to which one of said lines is connectedand a relay operated by the master clock having front and back contacts one of which is con nected to the otlier line and the other of which is connected to an independent :master clock circuit and an armature for said relay electrically connected to said common master clock circuit whereby simultaneous connec-L tion of said irst named line to the common and independent master clock circuits While the other line is connected to the common circuit is prevented. l

9. A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a master clock and one or more secondary clocks, a pair of transmission lines and means for selectively connecting each secondary clock toV one ofthem, means con-- trolled by the master clock for initiating a series of periodic7 impulses and means controlled by the master clock for intermittently initiating a series of more rapid impulses, separate relays for impressing the twoV series of impulses to said transmission lines and a third relay for disconnecting one'of said lines from each of the other relays'during the operationl of the means yfor initiating rapid impulses;

l0. A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a master clock and one or' more sec' ondary clocks, a pair of transmission lines and means for selectively connecting each secondaryclock to one of them, means coutrolled by. said master clock for continuously initiating a series of periodic impulses and means controlled by said master clock for intermittently initiating series of more rapid impulses during predetermined recurring periods, a common relay for impressing the periodic impulses to both of said lines, a second relay for impressing the more .rapid Vimpulses on one of said lines and a third' relay for sequentially disconnecting one of lines from the common relay and thereafter connecting the other line to the second relay prior to each recurring period.

11. A self-synchronizing clock system coinprising a master clock andA one'or more'sec ondary clocks, a irst and a second transy mission line and means for selectivelyconnecting each of said secondary clocks to one of said lines, means controlled by the master 'clock for continuously initiating a series of periodic impulses, means controlled by the 'master clock for intermittently initiating series oit' more rapid impulses during predetermined recurring periods, a common source of energg.7 for the impulses,- a net Work connecting'said lines to said source comprising a first relay having one contact connected to. said source and a coacting contact connected to said `rst line, a second relay having one contact connected tosaid source and a trolling means for said third relay 'operated by the master clock for shifting its armature p'rior'to each recurring rapid impulse period to disconnect the second line from the first and connect the rstlne to the source for both periodic and rapid impulses.

l2. A self-synchronizing clock system coin-` prising a master clock and one or more secondary. clocks, a pair of transmission lines and means for selectively connecting each secondary clock to one or the other of said lines according to time indications lby the secondn aries, means controlled by the master clock for initiating a continuous series of periodic impulses and independent means controlled byv the master clock for intermittentlyinitiating a recurring. series oi" more rapid impulses, means for permanently connecting one of said lines to the source of periodic impulses and common means for selectively connecting the.`

said line to the source of intermittent iin'-l pulses and .disconnecting the other line from the source of periodic impulses or disconnecting the said line from thesource of inf" termittent impulses and connecting the other line to the source of periodic impulses.

13. A self-synchronizing clock system comprising a master clock and one or more secondary clocks, a pair of transmission lines and means for selectively connecting each secondary clock with one or the other of said ing a recurring series of more rapid impulses therein, one of said transmission lines being .permanently connected to the first circuitV and interlocking sjvitching mechanism for connectingsaid line to the second circuit and disconnecting the other line from the first circuit prior toeach series of rapid impulses and connecting the other line to the first circuit after each series of rapid impulses..

14. A self-synchronizing clock system com-V prising a master clock and one or more sec# ondary clocks, a pair of transmission lines no 'r izo l and means for selectively connecting each i secondaryl clock with one or the other of said lines according tov time indications by the seconda-ries, la first circuit with means con) .trolled by the master clock for initiating a cmntinous series of periodic impulses therein, a second circuitwith means controlled Ibythe master clock for intermittently initiating a recurring series of more rapid impulses therein, one of said transmission lines being permanently connected to the first circuit and a relay energized under control of the master clock during the oeeurrenee of the rapid impulses and having a front Contact. Connected to the second circuit, an armature Contact connected to the one transmission line and a back Contact connected to the other transmission line.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

` EDWARD F. GEIGER. 

